VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is going ahead with plans to visit the conflict-wracked Central African Republic, but his top bodyguard is doing an unusual, last-minute on-site survey to determine if security concerns require any changes to the itinerary, the Vatican said Thursday.

Francis is expected to visit the capital, Bangui, on Nov. 29-30 after making stops in Kenya and Uganda. The Vatican said that in each country, Francis plans to use his popemobile for some transfers.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the pope wants to bring a message of peace and reconciliation to Central African Republic, where deadly violence between Christians and Muslims has flared recently despite the presence of more than 11,000 U.N. peacekeepers and police.

Lombardi said the Vatican is going ahead with the pope’s busy program in Bangui, which includes a visit to the main mosque, an interfaith meeting with Catholic, evangelical and Muslim representatives, a big Mass and an evening prayer vigil. He said the Paris attacks hadn’t changed the itinerary.

Nevertheless, Francis’ top bodyguard, Domenico Gianni, is leaving early for Bangui for a last-minute survey, and will join the papal delegation once Francis arrives in Nairobi on Wednesday for the start of the trip, Lombardi said.

“We’re following the situation, and will take decisions that can be necessary if there’s something unforeseen or unusual,” he said.

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